Eddie Plank vs Rube Waddell: Career Stats Comparison
Eddie Plank has the better career line of the two, leading 8 of the 12 statistical categories compared on this page. Eddie Plank played 1901–1917 as a pitcher; Rube Waddell played 1897–1910 as a pitcher.
- ERA (Earned Run Average):
- Earned runs allowed per nine innings pitched: (ER × 9) ÷ IP. The primary measure of pitching effectiveness.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- SO (Strikeouts):
- For a batter, times retired on a third strike; for a pitcher, batters retired on a third strike.
- WHIP (Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched):
- Baserunners allowed per inning: (BB + H) ÷ IP. Under 1.00 is elite.
Data updated
Eddie Plank (1901–1917) and Rube Waddell (1897–1910) — breaking in during the 1900s and the 1890s respectively, so they pitched against very different hitting environments. Eddie Plank compiled 326 wins and 2,246 strikeouts; Rube Waddell put up 193 wins and 2,316 strikeouts. The numbers below run them through identical career and rate-stat lenses.
Quick answer
- Who had the better ERA? Rube Waddell, with 2.16 to Eddie Plank's 2.35.
- Who won more games? Eddie Plank, with 326 to Rube Waddell's 193.
- Who recorded more strikeouts? Rube Waddell, with 2,316 to Eddie Plank's 2,246.
- Who had the better WHIP? Rube Waddell, with 1.10 to Eddie Plank's 1.12.
- Who pitched more innings? Eddie Plank, with 4,495 to Rube Waddell's 2,961.
- Who threw more shutouts? Eddie Plank, with 69 to Rube Waddell's 50.
- Who has the higher career Pitcher PIV? Rube Waddell, with 69,450 career Pitcher PIV to Eddie Plank's 51,914.
Eddie Plank
Rube Waddell
Career Stats Side-by-Side
Every cell below is a career total or career rate. Cells highlighted in green mark the player who leads that line. Lower ERA, WHIP and BB/9 lead; higher K/9 leads. Totals where fewer is not an achievement -- losses, walks and hits allowed -- are left unmarked, because they track how long someone pitched rather than how well. Rate stats are not era-adjusted: compare them with the era in mind, or use the PIV card below, which is.
| Statistic | Eddie Plank | Rube Waddell |
|---|---|---|
| Wins | Leads: 326 | 193 |
| Losses | 194 | 143 |
| Games | Leads: 623 | 407 |
| Games Started | Leads: 529 | 340 |
| Complete Games | Leads: 410 | 261 |
| Shutouts | Leads: 69 | 50 |
| Saves | Leads: 23 | 5 |
| Strikeouts | 2,246 | Leads: 2,316 |
| Walks | 1,072 | 803 |
| Hits Allowed | 3,958 | 2,460 |
| Home Runs Allowed | 42 | 37 |
| Innings Pitched | Leads: 4,495 | 2,961 |
| ERA | 2.35 | Leads: 2.16 |
| WHIP | 1.12 | Leads: 1.10 |
| K/9 | 4.50 | Leads: 7.04 |
| BB/9 | Leads: 2.15 | 2.44 |
PIV Comparison
By PIV (Player Impact Value), Rube Waddell outpaces Eddie Plank 69,450 to 51,914 — a gap driven primarily by per-season impact (4,961 vs 3,054 per year). PIV adjusts each season to league baselines, so it's the cleanest way to compare careers across eras.
Peak Seasons
The best single seasons each player produced, ranked by ERA among qualified workloads (120+ innings).
Eddie Plank — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Rube Waddell — top 3 seasons by ERA (lower is better)
Verdict
On the head-to-head card, Rube Waddell leads in strikeouts, ERA, WHIP, and K/9, while Eddie Plank owns wins and innings pitched. That doesn't settle the era debate, but on the raw scoreboard the edge goes to Rube Waddell. PIV agrees: Rube Waddell grades out higher across their careers. Click through to each profile for the full season-by-season breakdown.
Related Matchups
Eddie Plank vs Rube Waddell: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was better, Eddie Plank or Rube Waddell?
- By the career statistics compared on this page, Eddie Plank leads Rube Waddell in 8 of 12 categories.
- Who had the better ERA?
- Rube Waddell, with 2.16 to Eddie Plank's 2.35.
- Who won more games?
- Eddie Plank, with 326 to Rube Waddell's 193.
- Who recorded more strikeouts?
- Rube Waddell, with 2,316 to Eddie Plank's 2,246.
- Who had the better WHIP?
- Rube Waddell, with 1.10 to Eddie Plank's 1.12.